Hi, I’m Josh Hills and I’ve been working at The Pioneer Club in St Albans for the past four years. I’ve also been skateboarding at the park for nearly a decade. This place is incredibly special to me, and to everyone who comes through our doors.

Thanks to some amazing fundraising efforts so far, we’ve already made great progress. Now I feel it’s my time to step up and do my part. For the first time in my life, I’m undergoing some serious training to take on a challenge that I’m both excited and terrified about.

With the generous support of Gosling Sports Park in Welwyn Garden City, they’ve offered me the use of their velodrome free of charge so I can attempt something pretty crazy — a full marathon on a skateboard.

For those who don’t know, a marathon is 26.2 miles. On the velodrome, that works out to roughly 92.7 laps… all of which I’ll be skateboarding.

This will be the first time I’ve ever attempted anything like this.

The challenge begins on Sunday 5th July at 11am and continues until the mission is complete.

This is also an open invitation for anyone who wants to come along and join the (arguable) fun. Feel free to come down, cheer me on, shout encouragement, or even skate some laps with me to help keep me going.

If you’d like to get involved, you’re more than welcome to run your own fundraiser on the day. You don’t have to do the full marathon — sponsored laps, a half marathon, or even just a few laps would be amazing.

Let’s work together to get The Pioneer the new outdoor skatepark it deserves.

See you at the velodrome.